By Odoma Uwodi
I have argued for some time now that politics has evolved into a full-blown religion in Nigeria, one with its own doctrines, sacred rituals, high priests, and devoted followers. Nigerian politicians worship daily in the temple of politics, where they take silent oaths to preserve falsehood, uphold personal interest, and betray the people they claim to serve.
The transformation is almost instantaneous. The moment a Muslim or Christian steps into the arena of Nigerian politics, a new conversion quietly takes place. They cross over into this strange faith; one where morality becomes a burden, truth becomes optional, lies are currency, and falsehood lights the path to power.
This religion spares no one. Take, for example, the case of a Reverend Father who, upon becoming a politician, boldly declared that there were no killings in his state even when the blood of innocent citizens cried from the ground, even when entire communities were displaced from lands they had occupied for generations. Faith, compassion, and truth evaporated the moment the political garment was worn.
Or consider the instance of a Muslim First Lady who publicly denied that an attack occurred on a CAC congregation, an attack that claimed lives and led to multiple abductions. Her denial did not merely distort facts; it revealed the chilling creed of this political religion: never admit the truth, no matter the weight of evidence.
This religion is devoid of empathy. A Brigadier General was gruesomely murdered on video in a manner that should shock any conscience and yet, the priests and followers of the political faith maintained a scripted silence. Not a word of condemnation. Not a whisper of outrage. Not even the faintest attempt at justice. Their silence was not accidental; it was doctrinal.
In this religion, elections matter more than human lives. Sycophancy is more valuable than integrity. Being politically correct is more rewarding than being morally upright. Here, justice is an inconvenience, compassion a distraction, and accountability a taboo.
Politics in Nigeria has become a creed where loyalty to party supersedes loyalty to truth… where allegiance to power is greater than allegiance to God… where leaders kneel at the altar of ambition while the people they swore to protect bleed without help or hope.
And until we, as a nation, confront this dangerous mutation, this elevation of politics above humanity, Nigeria will remain trapped in the hands of political clerics who preach prosperity while administering poverty, who chant unity while sowing division, and who promise safety while mortgaging lives.
A country where politics becomes religion is a country that risks losing its soul.
